Method of forming a solar collector or hot water storage tank and solar water heating apparatus using same

Method of forming a solar heat collector or storage element having flow passages therethrough which comprises:

• bonding a pair of flexible non-metallic sheet members directly to each other at a plurality of discrete areas of similar size, said discrete areas being similarly spaced apart longitudinally and laterally with respect to each other, embedding tensile filaments in at least one of the flexible non-metallic sheet members to equalize mechanical stresses between the bonded and unbonded areas over both of said flexible sheet members, said filaments also strengthening the at least one member when the resulting unbonded volume between said sheet member is filled with fluid,
• sealing along each of the peripheral edges of said sheet members to form an enclosed chamber having uniform flow passages along substantially the entire length of opposed ones of said edges to ensure relatively free lateral and longitudinal communication of fluid between said flexible sheet members when the resulting unbonded volume between said sheet members is filled with fluid, covering at least one of said flexible sheet members with a bond-inhibiting coating prior to bonding to the other sheet member except over said discrete areas and said opposed edges which are to be sealed, and forming inlet and outlet passages adjacent two opposed edges of said chamber.

Method forming a solar heat collector or storage element having flow passages therethrough which comprises:

• sealing along each of the peripheral edges of a pair of flexible non-metallic sheet members to form an enclosed, inflatable chamber, inflating the chamber, bonding the pair of flexible non-metallic sheet members directly to each other at a plurality of discrete areas of similar size, said discrete areas being similarly spaced apart longitudinally and laterally with respect to each other, the bonding being accomplished by applying pressure to the exterior portions of said flexible sheet members directly overlying said discrete areas to form uniform flow passages along substantially the entire length of opposed ones of said edges to ensure relatively free lateral and longitudinal communication of fluid between said flexible sheet members when the resulting unbonded volume between said sheet members is filled with fluid, embedding tensile filaments in at least one of the flexible non-metallic sheet members to equalize mechanical stresses between the bonded and unbonded areas over both of said flexible sheet members, said filaments also strengthening the at least one member when the resulting unbonded volume between said sheet member is filled with fluid, and forming inlet and outlet passages adjacent two opposed edges of said chamber.